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Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML:This schoolroom drama that inspired the classic Sidney Poitier film is "a microcosm of the racial issues . . . A dramatic picture of discrimination" (Kirkus Reviews). With opportunities for black men limited in postâ??World War II London, Rick Braithwaite, a former Royal Air Force pilot and Cambridge-educated engineer, accepts a teaching position that puts him in charge of a class of angry, unmotivated, bigoted white teenagers whom the system has mostly abandoned. When his efforts to reach these troubled students are met with threats, suspicion, and derision, Braithwaite takes a radical new approach. He will treat his students as people poised to enter the adult world. He will teach them to respect themselves and to call him "Sir." He will open up vistas before them that they never knew existed. And over the course of a remarkable year, he will touch the lives of his students in extraordinary ways, even as they in turn, unexpectedly and profoundly, touch his. Based on actual events in the author's life, To Sir, With Love is a powerfully moving story that celebrates courage, commitment, and vision, and is the inspiration for the classic film starring Sidney Poiti… (more)
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Despite the fact that Braithwaite is determined to see teaching as a job not a career, he decides to make the best of it. Unfortunately, his first weeks are a disaster. Not only the colour of his skin but his patrician upbringing, and his lack of training make it almost impossible for him to relate to his students. At first, the problems seem insurmountable. The children are belligerent and deliberately offensive, testing him at every opportunity and, at first, he retaliates with anger. But somewhere along the way, he reassesses his own attitude towards his students. He determines to change the rules; he will scrap the lesson plan and they can talk about anything as long as they treat each other with respect. To this end, he is to be called Sir, the girls will be addressed as Miss, and the boys by their last names. By treating these children as adults, he wins, not only their respect but their love.
Braithwaite’s autobiographical novel is a fascinating look at the effect a good teacher can have on their students. It also gives an interesting look at the hopes and dreams people from British colonial countries placed on Britain and how the reality was so far from those dreams:
“Yes, it is wonderful to be British – until one comes to Britain”
In the end, though, it is an inspiring tale of how minds and attitudes can be changed if people are willing to listen to and treat each other each other with respect. Written in 1959, I have read comments from other reviewers saying that this novel is outdated. Personally, I think its message has never been more fresh or more needed
Moving story of a young man newly qualified as an engineer trying to make his way in the world.
Frustrated by the prejudices he meets at every turn, the narrator is forced to consider his options.
Searingly honest and heartfelt story of a man's
Like the blurb says "A book that the reader devours quickly, ponders slowly, and forgets not at all."
I still remember the details when we were studying this for our English lessons in school.
I don't think I could find anything bad about it.
Recommended for everyone!
Regardless of this one small issue, after more than half a century since its release, the book remains eminently readable and still resonates deeply. It is a snapshot of the times - at least as how the times were perceived by a person of color with a privileged upbringing. The fact that Braithwaite went on to become ambassador does speak volumes for his credibility so perhaps events really did happen precisely how he portrays.
Originally written in 1959 and set in the post WWII tough East End of London, To Sir, With Love is a
After being jobless for 18 months, "Disillusionment had given place to a deepening, poisoning hatred; slowly but surely I was hating these people who could so casually, so unfeelingly deny me the right to earn a living. I was considered too well educated, too good for the lowly jobs, and too black for anything better."(Location 607)
He finds himself at Greenslade Secondary School in charge of 40 students. His initial encounter with the students is not what he expected: "I felt shocked by the encounter. My vision of teaching in a school was one of straight rows of desks, and neat, well-mannered, obedient children. The room I had just left seemed like a menagerie.... Was it the accepted thing here? Would I have to accept it too? "(Location 161)
The majority of the children could be generally classified as difficult with a disregard for authority. They are poorly fed, clothed and housed. They face a multitude of difficulties in an environment that is lacking in every way, however, as Braithwaite points out, they are, as a majority, white. He has faced numerous difficulties and hurdles based on his skin color. Certainly these children can be taught to overcome their limitations.
Braithwaite is very blunt and, well, insulting, in some of his descriptions and this is especially noticeable at the beginning of the book. For all his difficulties endured due to racism, clearly sexism was also a prevalent part of the times. I had to take into consideration the time in which it was originally written and place it in a historical context.
If you have seen the movie, it is impossible to read the book To Sir, With Love by E. R. Braithwaite without picturing Sidney Poitier and hearing the song sung by Lulu.
While there are many similarities, there are many differences too. The book is set in the late 1940s while the movie, released in 1967, changed the setting to the 60's. The book also deals openly with questions of race and the overt prejudice Braithwaite felt in Great Britain. The timeline for some events in the book is changed around for the movie. In comparison to the sombrer tone of the book, the movie feels light-hearted.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Open Road Media via Netgalley for review purposes.
The story is simple, and events are not as dramatic. A black man's experience in post-war London is not surprising with the context of history, and few key events in his short teaching history aren't extraordinary. Perhaps with the vantage of change in time, I am immune, but addressing students respectfully and treating them as an adult doesn't appear to be a such as dramatic act on part of Mr. Braithwaite. I can understand though how it may have differed from his contemporaries at that time. Similarly, hardships he encountered from students are unusual for a school, for sure, but were easily handled with basic courtesy and civility. His success with students in very short tenure of nine months is noteworthy but also give an aura of unbelievability. Any parent who has gone through a litany of books on parenting only to find that they don't work on his or her child knows the reaction towards self-congratulatory awesome work by the author in the classroom.
That said, the book narrates a simple chronological account of events in a school. It's a light read and didn't leave me with any thought-provoking questions.
This time, the book compares very favorably to the movie. In the book, we see everything through the eyes of "Sir" instead of
My final verdict? I still love the movie starring Sidney Poitier; I always will. But I am very glad that I read E.R. Braithwaite's autobiography. In reading the book I feel as though I've gotten much closer to learning the entire story while the movie gives me the Reader's Digest condensed version.
Brathwaite, the protagonist of the story, is the true definition of a mentor. An ex-RAF officer, when he comes to London for a decent job, he is rejected
The students at the school, being brought up in shanty areas, do not impress him enough. But he takes on the job with the reminder that he needs to feed himself and this job is just enough to do that for a while. When the classes commence and he interacts with his students and understands them slowly and gradually, he realises that it is in his power whether he should improve their minds or let them be.
And thus begins a journey of building up their manners, attitudes towards each other and their brains to survive in the professional world they will soon be stepping into. This class now no longer is just an English class. Among the many things that he teaches them, he is also successful in liberating their hearts from racialism.
This book is filled with pure empathy, encouragement and eloquence.
Premise/plot: Historical fiction/autobiographical novel. Set in the East End (I believe) of London during the mid/late 1940s. [I *want* to say that the year 1947 was used???] Mr. Braithwaite doesn't want to be a teacher. He really doesn't. But with limited opportunities for employment--complicated in part by the color of his skin--he accepts the job reluctantly and with some bitterness. [In the movie, the bitterness was disguised much more. Here the text ripples with anger, bitterness, dare I say hate???] He doesn't seem to enjoy teaching, for the most part, or like most of his coworkers [with the exception of a few], and he definitely doesn't enjoy being around his students--not really. But over the course of a year--a little less than a year--he comes to better terms with his life. I wouldn't say he ever comes to love it though.
My thoughts: The book may be a thousand times truer to life. But. I will always prefer the movie. I knew a little of what to expect from watching the movie, but, nothing really prepared me for the author's narrative style. It was a little earthy/crude for my personal taste. [Like did every thought the teacher had about breasts have to be included??? Like noticing his students, coworkers, fellow bus riders, etc.] It is definitely a race book--for better or worse. He felt less discriminated against during the war, and settling back down he was unprepared for how much prejudice he would [still] encounter in his day to day life. He does date one of his white coworkers--a fellow teacher--and the two do face some problems.